Suicide accounts for 2% of deaths in people with HIV, twice the rate of the general population
Suicide accounts for 2% of deaths in people with HIV, twice the rate of the general population
- “Our findings highlight the need for a reduction in the stigma surrounding HIV, improvements in psychosocial support and routine screening for depression and drug and alcohol misuse, particularly at the time of diagnosis,” she said.
Suicide has figured as a cause of death in numerous previous studies of people with HIV. Furthermore, high rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts have been seen in numerous cohorts and surveys.
The study draws on a comprehensive national cohort of all 88,994 people diagnosed with HIV in England and Wales between 1997 and 2012. These data were linked to the Office of National Statistics’ death data, using pseudo-anonymised identifiers. Deaths reported by HIV clinicians were also included.
- “Our findings highlight the need for a reduction in the stigma surrounding HIV, improvements in psychosocial support and routine screening for depression and drug and alcohol misuse, particularly at the time of diagnosis,” she said.
Suicide has figured as a cause of death in numerous previous studies of people with HIV. Furthermore, high rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts have been seen in numerous cohorts and surveys.
The study draws on a comprehensive national cohort of all 88,994 people diagnosed with HIV in England and Wales between 1997 and 2012. These data were linked to the Office of National Statistics’ death data, using pseudo-anonymised identifiers. Deaths reported by HIV clinicians were also included.